One eye on polls, Mamata focuses on welfare schemes, rural thrust in budget

Two million new pucca houses for SC/ST over five years, sops for farmers with an increase in financial aid from Rs 5,000 to Rs 6,000 and minimum aid from Rs 2,000 to Rs 3,000

With an eye on the upcoming assembly polls, West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, presented a budget on Friday heavily focused on welfare schemes and rural development.

Banerjee began her speech highlighting the twin challenges faced by Bengal during the year – Covid-19 and the Amphan cyclone. 

“Bengal fought fervently against the challenges of the pandemic, Amphan and deprivation of the central government and remained undaunted and undefeated. Standing against all these odds, we have not only been able to check Covid-19 pandemic, but also been able to mitigate the losses arising from Amphan to a great extent and held the glory